Bite Sized Brilliance : Top 10 Small Plates in London

Small plates: the delicious loophole that lets you order everything on the menu and still feel vaguely sophisticated about it. Central London has fully embraced the art of the shareable plate, with restaurants serving dishes that are bold, seasonal, global, and made to be passed around. Whether you're into Basque bites, izakaya nibbles or modern British twists, this city has mastered the miniature.

Here are 10 of the best small plates restaurants in Central London, where less really does mean more.

1. Barrafina – Soho & Covent Garden

Spanish tapas, but seriously elevated

At Barrafina, the rules are simple: no reservations, no bad dishes. Sit at the marble-topped bar and watch chefs whip up razor clams, tortilla Española, and morcilla with apple like it’s a performance. It’s loud, it’s lively, it’s legendary—and it’s worth every queue.

Must-try: Carabineros prawns and the classic tortilla.

2. NOPI – Soho

Ottolenghi-style small plates with a fine dining glow-up

This slick Soho spot from Yotam Ottolenghi delivers sunshine on a plate. The Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired dishes are vibrant, fresh, and endlessly inventive. Expect burrata with clementine, miso aubergine, and labneh for days.

Must-try: Roasted aubergine with black garlic and feta.

3. The Barbary – Neal’s Yard

North African fire, Tel Aviv energy

Tucked into the atmospheric corner of Neal’s Yard, The Barbary serves bold, smoky plates inspired by the Barbary Coast. Sit at the counter, watch the fire-fuelled grill, and snack on charred cauliflower, harissa prawns and fluffy naan straight from the taboon.

Must-try: The Jerusalem bagel with za’atar and smoked aubergine.

4. Kiln – Soho

Thai grillhouse meets Soho cool

At Kiln, the dishes are small, spicy, and packed with umami-rich fire. Inspired by northern Thai and Lao cooking, the kitchen uses wood-burning stoves and clay pots to turn out deeply aromatic food with a serious edge. No frills—just flavour bombs.

Must-try: Clay pot glass noodles with Tamworth pork and brown crab.

5. Sabor – Mayfair

Basque-country tapas with Michelin sparkle

Run by Nieves Barragán Mohacho (formerly of Barrafina), Sabor brings rustic Spanish cooking to Mayfair—with flair. Downstairs is all about pintxos and bar seating; upstairs, the Asador serves whole suckling pig. The small plates are unfussy, expertly executed, and utterly addictive.

Must-try: Octopus with aioli and the prawn croquetas.

6. Evelyn’s Table – Soho

Refined, intimate, and deeply seasonal

Located beneath The Blue Posts pub, this Michelin-starred 12-seater is all about immersive, ingredient-led cooking. While technically a tasting menu, each dish arrives like a small plate in a beautifully orchestrated progression of British, French and Japanese flavours.

Must-try: It changes constantly—but trust the chef.

7. Palomar – Soho

Jerusalem-style small plates with swagger

Palomar’s open kitchen and buzzing counter seating make it one of the most fun spots in Soho for sharing plates that combine Mediterranean flair with Israeli heart. Think jaffa-style polenta, kubaneh bread with tahini, and beef tartare spiked with harissa.

Must-try: Shakshukit (deconstructed kebab) and kubaneh with velvet tomato confit.

8. Humble Chicken – Soho

Japanese yakitori meets izakaya soul

Chef Angelo Sato’s slick Soho spot redefines nose-to-tail chicken with skewers, small plates and a tasting menu that's part izakaya, part art installation. Think chicken liver parfait on toasted milk bread, slow-grilled tsukune, and smoky tare that clings to memory.

Must-try: Chicken neck skewer or soy-glazed bone marrow rice.

9. Ember Yard – Soho

Wood-fired Mediterranean plates with a smoky kiss

At Ember Yard, everything touches the grill. Whether it’s Iberico pork, charred leeks, or smoked burrata, each plate is infused with a whisper of smoke and kissed by fire. It’s moody, buzzy, and great for a date night with greedy appetites.

Must-try: Chargrilled octopus with paprika aioli.

10. Luca – Clerkenwell

Modern Italian elegance, small plate sensibility

From the team behind The Clove Club, Luca serves British seasonal ingredients through an Italian lens. Small sharing plates of burrata, wild mushroom tortellini, and aged parmesan gnocchi sit comfortably next to cured meats and fresh-from-the-garden veg.

Must-try: Spaghettini with Morecambe Bay shrimp and Amalfi lemon.